FORT KENT, Maine — After gunshots were heard on Pleasant Street in the vicinity of three schools — Valley Rivers Middle School, Fort Kent Community High School and the University of Maine at Fort Kent — school officials have announced a delayed start as police investigate.
The Fort Kent Police Department posted on social media Wednesday morning that this is a precautionary measure, but that the incident did involve the discharge of a firearm near the three schools.
The University of Maine at Fort Kent announced on its website that campus will be closed for the day.
“Due to shots fired and a person barricading themselves in their home within the vicinity of the Fort Kent Elementary and Middle Schools on Pleasant Street in Fort Kent, the Fort Kent Police Department has requested that UMFK close all operations for the day,” the post read, adding that the schools will reopen on Thursday and provide more information once the situation is resolved.
“This appears to be an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public at this time,” the post read. “This is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of our kids and faculty. We will update our post once the incident has been resolved.”
MSAD 27 posted on its website at 6:53 a.m. Wednesday that the district’s schools will be on a two-hour delay.
“We are asking all students and staff to stay away from the MSAD 27 schools at this time,” the post read. “We will update you over the next several hours as we learn more.”
Fort Kent police said at 7:47 a.m. that there no additional information was available.